And there you have it. The quarterback who entered this season with so much hope and hype, and has since delivered so much disappointment, says the best way to beat king Alabama is by throwing even more.

Really, if you’re LSU, what else is there? The Tigers can’t use their successful power run game if they can’t at least throw enough to keep Alabama guessing. We saw that play out in last year’s BCS National Championship Game, when LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson had problems taking snaps—much less throwing (53 yards, one interception) to give the offense balance.

It should come as no surprise that LSU had 39 rushing yards on 27 carries in the 21-0 loss the last time these teams played, didn’t score a point and was humiliated in the championship game rematch.

“It seemed like nothing we did worked,” said LSU tackle Josh Dworaczyk.

So naturally, the response is to lay the game plan in the hands of a quarterback who has struggled since the first play of the season. To expect an offensive line, dented by injuries all season, to protect against the No. 1 defense in the nation.

To expect receivers who have underachieved all season, to win individual battles and make key plays downfield. To expect an offense whose philosophy is run and play defense, to suddenly get creative and change the course of the season.

“We’re really going to throw the football better,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “What we’re going to do is attempt to stretch them vertically and horizontally in the passing game.”

Before you get all excited, let me remind you that LSU had the exact same game plan going into last year’s national championship game. Miles wanted to get wideouts Odell Beckham and Russell Shepard and Jarvis Landry in space and force the Tide’s cornerbacks and safeties to win the game.

In theory, it’s a strong idea. The weakest link of the Alabama defense is the secondary.

But if you can’t protect the quarterback and give him time to go through progressions and make good decisions, the plan falls apart. If your quarterback has accuracy problems, and has spent the last two months dodging pass rushes and losing confidence in the guys in front of him, it doesn’t matter what plan you’ve got.

In three games against ranked teams, Mettenberger has completed 34-of-79 passes (43 percent) for 403 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Those numbers aren’t beating Alabama—and they’re far from what Miles and everyone associated with the LSU program said would happen this fall.

Miles has raved about Mettenberger and his ability to change the offense since spring ball. He spoke of the Tigers’ ability to stretch the field with the deep ball, and force opponents to choose between getting beat by big plays in the passing game, or getting punished by a power run game.

Instead, we’ve watched Mettenberger look confused series after series. Watched him overthrow deep balls, and underthrow crossing routes. Watched him take too long to get rid of the ball, and not have enough time to find receivers.

A season where nothing has gone right in the passing game has come to this: “I have to make a lot of plays for us to win,” Mettenberger said.

There is precedent—and it’s as close as the other side of the ball. Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron struggled for much of last season, but the Tide protected him with a strong running game and smart play calling. By the end of the season, by the time Alabama needed him in the biggest game of the year, McCarron was the best player on the field.